Delaware Public Health reports rabid fox in Milton

Friday

A rabid fox was recently found and euthanized in the Milton area, according to the Delaware Division of Public Health.

A rabid fox was recently found and euthanized in the Milton area, according to the Delaware Division of Public Health.

DPH officials said the fox was found in the area of Route 89 and Chestnut Street after it bit a person. The person who was bit began post-exposure rabies treatment on June 2. The fox was caught, euthanized and tested for rabies and the DPH Lab confirmed the animal had rabies on June 5.

The fox was also in contact with feral cats in the area, DPH officials said.

Anyone who thinks they may have been bitten, scratched or had saliva contact with any fox or feral cat should contact their healthcare provider or call the DPH Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at (888) 295-5156.

Since January 2014, DPH performed 38 rabies tests on animals, two of which were confirmed to be rabid, including a feral cat and this fox. DPH officials said tests are only performed when there is potential for human contact, and that there may be more infected wild animals than these confirmed cases.

Rabies, which cannot be cured once symptoms occur, is endemic to Delaware. Signs of rabies include daytime activity in normally nocturnal animals, wild animals approaching humans or other animals and difficulty walk or moving. Some animals may be very aggressive and other may be very weak and have excessive salivation. DPH officials advise Delaware residents to avoid contact with wild animals, regularly vaccinate pets and report stray dogs and cats to First State Animal Center and SPCA at (888) 352-7722.